Giant trance any day of the week, its Maestro sus is the factor that gets my vote, not to mention that ive never really heard a bad word about it and is a great bike to ride.
Try them both and see which one takes your fancy, but theres only one id pick, cheers

Ive compared the components on the specialized to a lt of other bikes in its price range and they seem to be very good at its price?
How do the giants components stack up against the specialized?
(I dont know loads about the technical parts of bikes hense im on here )

Mate look up the giant website, it will have a full rundown of the specs, and post this blog in the giant sub forum here and/or ask the guys in that forum about the bike and do the same for the spec in the spec forum, that way you can make a more informed decision, research is very important.

I've been looking for god knows how long just wanted anoth opinion.
As I said I'm no bike expert so not sure how the gearing and brakes compare to the specialized

There isn't any part on either bike that makes me say that one is automatically a better deal than the other. Which means the only reason to pick one over the other is that you like riding it. This is, of course, complicated by the fact you can't find the Giant to test ride. Are there any other Giant dealers within a reasonable distance of you that you might be able to find one to test ride? If not, well you'll have to make a decision and all the internet opinions in the world won't be able to tell you for sure which one to buy.

Hopefully this may ease your mind: both are amazing bikes and it would be hard to go wrong.

Don't you hate it when a sentence doesn't end the way you think it octopus?

Thanks, I've emailed all the dealers on the giant website within a decent range of where I live and some aren't stocking till next year and others and stocking at all.
Although a few of the bike shops do have alternative giant full sus like the
2013 giant trance x3 and a few anthems.

If the components are just as good as each other I guess it's down to how it feels to ride like you said and the looks if the the 2 bikes

Eurghhh I've been looking to long haha, just want to get one if them they both look amazing (in my opinion) and I'm sure they both ride well...

Spech may be plusher during some rough descend, but Giant is definitely better overall. Pedal better without any propedal/brain, climb really well full open, accelerate better out of the corner. All on full open shock.

One thing to keep in mind in Giant's stellar warranty on the frame. Lifetime, and they mean it. I had an 04 NRS frame that I destroyed a few months back and Giant sent me a new Anthem X frame as a replacement. No questions. Granted, I'll need to build this new one up, but I doubt that in the event of a breakage you'd get the same from Specialized.

One thing to keep in mind in Giant's stellar warranty on the frame. Lifetime, and they mean it. I had an 04 NRS frame that I destroyed a few months back and Giant sent me a new Anthem X frame as a replacement. No questions. Granted, I'll need to build this new one up, but I doubt that in the event of a breakage you'd get the same from Specialized.

Holy crap! really? Kudos to Giant. Most of the bike companies "lifetime" warranty is based on the bike so read the fine print. Some are as little as 5 years, so much for a lifetime part.

Though I must say that many good bikes companies would offer special deal even when the frame is out of warranty, just be nice when you ask

Spec and giant have just slightly different sizes, i do prefer the maestro suspension but both are great bikes. Both are from massive massive companies, with many many dealers and lots of customer support and years in the industry.

I am partial to Giant, but i would jump on a specialized bike and ride it like it was stolen any day. I mean if i wasnt afraid of my bike becoming insecure and killing me next time i rode it. lol

oh wow, the camber is 120mm travel... these bikes are pretty damn close

being that its a year old and a good price i think the suspension package on the camber is a little bit better, but i think the suspension system on the giant is better.

I would aay go with the Giant but i am bias as I ride a giant reign 1, but if you have ride the specialized and are happy about it then get it as it seems there ain't any giant dealer lbs near you.. So when it comes to servicing and stuff it could be a pain not having a shop near you.

I take trips up to the Lake District to bike so I need something that's good at both climbing and descending, when I'm not in the Lake District it will be just XC stuff and going to forest areas like thetford, rendlesham etc

Will do :P
Just found outta insurance claim bike is arriving Friday aswell do hopefully that will come in the morning... Plan is to trade it in :P
( insurance claim on stolen bike: 2013 specialized rock hopper £600)